Hawk Inn Pub & Dining — Restaurant in Test Valley

A delightful place to stay and eat.

Located opposite a big green field on a gentle slope, nestled in a tiny town next to a quiet road where horseriders trot by and the Autumn sunshine pours down like warm ale. The Hawk Inn is apparently part of a chain of small hotels, but it feels like very much like it has its own independence and character. The feel of an old-world country pub, but with a level of varnish across all the wood panelling that makes it feels fresh and upmarket. Nevertheless, I paid only two thirds the cost of the nearby "discount" hotel options (Holiday Binn and TravelStodge) - which both charged circa £100 for their faceless charmless room and board.

Service was an ease, a delight, friendly and laid back but professional. The staff know why you're there and you know why the staff there and there are no silly pretences, only respect and dignity.

The rooms are plush and the mattress is welcoming enough to make you feel like a Prince. This little Prince would have preferred a slightly less plumpy and enormous pillow, but that's really by the by and I'm sure the staff would have accommodated my Princely whims if I could have been bothered to go downstairs and ask. But I didn't bother, so that's really on me. Also the shower didn't drain super quick but I'm sure that can be fixed easily with a quick pump (like all things in life 😉).

Food was lush. I had both dinner and breakfast and I regret neither. I enjoyed the flavours and each piece of food I ate was good to put in my mouth and swallow.

Overall a fine experience. An asset to the village of...

Love this place been coming here since I was a nipper back in the day when it was the Amport Inn. Cracking location, lovely old pub.

But something has changed!?

The staff were trying their best and the food was on point when it arrived.

But we waited ninety minutes for our food to turn up, we were cool no dramas we understand coming from a hospitality background. But we had to go to the bar to get our own drinks and over heard some people waiting over two hours for their food.

Like I said the team were at full capacity and it was Mothering Sunday so yeah we get it, people were still coming in and getting seated.

We later over heard that the booking system is out sourced, ie you ring and book or book online you’re not actually talking to the pub staff.

The pub was over booked and the kitchen was under too much pressure!!

Upham Inns, what would you rather have, two hundred covers and lots of unhappy customers and your team having to give discounts left right and center or one hundred and fifty/sixty covers and happy customers that are going to come back?

Plus it’s not fair on your team, they were at breaking point!!

Please listen to you customers (there are plenty of similar reviews) and to your staff.

Like I said grate food in the end and we appreciated the staff.

All the best to the manager for trying her utmost to keep...

I bought my dad here for lunch about two weeks ago thinking what a lovely place with great views a bit more pricey than usual but it didn't matter as I don't take him out often so wanted to make it special. Unfortunately the service was slow and very poor. My dad ordered a draught and it was clearly at the end of the barrel as there were bits floating to the top! Once we ordered our lunch we was only bought half of it out and was told the rest was coming out. We waited and waited there was still no sign they had forgotten about us. The lady that said she would ask her colleague to bring the rest of it out hadn't. So we waited half an hour or more there was still no sign by this time we had eaten our lunch. I then went inside to speak to somebody and explained that we needed to go as I had to pick my eldest child up from nursery and please don't worry about the rest of the order as we didn't have time. We asked for the bill and to speak to the manager as we were very dissatisfied. The food was nice but the service let it down massively! When the lady came came out she said there was no manager and that she couldn't understand why we wasn't happy she just seemed to want to argue with us. She came across as rude and abrupt and seemed distracted. We left feeling upset and disappointed 😞. We won't be...